We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Xhristopher. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Xhristopher below.
Xhristopher, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
Ah, there has been plenty of moments where I felt that fire burst within to pursue my artistic path professionally, but there is one particular moment I will never forget. I remember this day like it was yesterday, from what I remember I was young about may 10 or 11 or maybe younger. Saturday mornings at my home was relaxation day, my family was a big football family, whole family played football, even me, vaguely and we don’t need to discuss that, haha. Everyone in our home relaxed watched a lot of college football that day, but for some reason my mother was in her room watching TCM, for those who don’t know, it was the Turner Classic Movie channel. My mother loves this channel, I mean her eyes would light up admiring the films from the 30’s to 60’s, from the way they would create films during those times and until this day she say’s “They will never create films the way they did during those time” and that for me that’s when it happened. One Saturday afternoon I just happened to walk her room and witnessed one of the greatest films to be created, which was West Side Story. When I heard the music and the passion through every voice and instrument, it gave me chills through my body and the tears glossed my eyes. I stood there and I knew whatever art I create in my life I want to make the world feel what West Side Story made me feel and I want to do it professionally. I want to make the world feel love, passion, happiness, pain, excitement and all the feelings I can’t put into words, the way that film did for me. I hope I can do that for the rest of my life.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Well let me start from the beginning, I am legally Christopher K. Walker, from Pittsburgh, PA born and raised. Come from home of 3 brothers older brothers where my mom and dad raised us. We brought up in the church, that’s where I got introduced to music, started singing in the choir so on and so on. I took on many path throughout my musical journey, I have done theatre, auditioned for Broadway in my city, auditioned for American Idol (hated it and not for me, for others, but that’s a different interview haha), but then there’s a musical path that led me where I am today.
There was a local DJ who I was introduced to by our musical director. He had happened to show up during one of our rehearsals, if you knew our relationship today, that wasn’t coincidence. We.re rehearsals, I’m just trying to rehearse and go over this damn song and he stops it and tells me to sing while doing push ups in front of the whole cast. Not only does my family and my musical director believe me, but that man still until this today pushes me to never give up on my dreams and goals and I wouldn’t have gotten this far without any of them.
After leaving junior high, I ended up working with the DJ who had his own record label at the time and radio station, I started recording here and there with him. He helped me get comfortable being in the studio, gave me some wisdom on industry movements, insights and his views on the music industry. During those times I was student for sure and I appreciated more they would know because where I am at today, I know exactly what I want out of my career.
There was large break in my journey due depression and anxiety. Making the worst decision in my life that I regret until this day. I put a hold on my dreams and goals for someone who never even planned on being with me in the first place. Reminds me of Frank Ocean’s song ‘Bad Religion’. Never give up your dreams for no one.
That break lasted a good two and half years, once I broke that engagement off, I had to dig deep and find where the hell I was going and I eventually did, back to music and more.
I found a great job working at this Hotel called Ace Hotel Pittsburgh, I was SURROUNDED by creatives, from DJ’s to Drag Queens to event promotors, you name it. They had staff party and we all got the chance to show our gifts and talents, so I said why not open that door again. I’ll say this before I stepped on that stage, I had flash back about those two years I lost, I thought about you (music), I dreamed about you (music), I questioned myself on why am I wasting time not pursuing you (my art). It’s never going to leave my soul. Before I knew it I was in front the mic, song was over and everyone just stared at me, my eyes widen because now I feel awkward and yet again I’m on another path to grabbing a hold of my dream.
My Bar Manager at the time, gave one simple glance and says “Damn dude, I didn’t even know you could sing!” Two months pass I wanna say, he comes into work and our team at that time we hugged each other when we came into work and we hugged when we left each other and you was on the shit list if you forgot. But after we hugged he pulls me to our back room and hands me a mic and interface and says “I believe you can really do this!” that brings me to tears because I deal with deep depression on not believing in my craft at times because of many things.
From that moment, I am truly proud of myself for how I written and recorded, for about 4 to 5 years for my debut album that’s out now called “Why Not Start With You” I recorded that album on my own from my parents basement to my own apartment. It was the wildest journey of my life thus far because not only did I learn a lot about my voice, but about my sound and how it connects to who I am. Learning who I was through creating this album, I became more open about my sexuality and me being non-binary, that’s where I decided to slightly change the spelling of my name to Xhristopher. I want my fans and the audience to understand that I am not in the box they I’m in. The X symbolizing the many ways that my journey will take me and where my music and art will guide you. When you listen to my music, it is straight to the point, but there is depth that you have to take your mind, to understand truly where I am taking you and there will be many paths you will take to get here. I want every human being who hears my music to understand it’s okay to be yourself wholeheartedly. When the world hears my music, the mission is to let the people know I am here for you, I hear you and I feel you. You’re never alone because I been there.
Through all that I have been through and what I’ve learned, it is only preparing me for what is to come. This is an everyday fight that I will never give. Even through my falls, flaws, mistakes, imperfections & losses, when that moment comes to stand in front of the world to show them that they can do this to if you never stop fighting for what they believe in. That’s the message I will forever carry with me for my fans, is hope. My goals to continue to stand apart from others in this industry, to have that love of creating art, creating albums and not just singles, memorable visuals and being true to myself on and off the camera, always spread support and love to other artist because this journey is hard and it can get lonely. my sound will set me apart on its own and the world will have to buckle up.
When I see the artist like Frank Ocean, Beyonce, Rita Ora, J. Cole & Kendrick Lamar who fought through all their battles and never gave up, no matter the obstacles they encountered. They inspired me to create and step into my own, I’m like It’s scary, but I’m here to take the risk and I’m not stopping until I make it.
That being said, my next steps on this journey is to finally visually start telling my story and properly introduce myself to the whole world and making some final decisions on the second album.
I know one day you’ll see me and hear me everywhere!
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
There’s one thing I think non-creatives struggle to understand about artist is that we are human just like them. We may see and take life in differently from the world around us, but we still grow, change, survive, have weaknesses and deal with many other aspects of life. I think people who aren’t in our shoes don’t quite understand that it’s just as important for us creators to be treated and respected like any other human being. We’re sensitive and passionate about what we create, but we have the same emotions about our day to day life moments. Some of us incorporate that in our art and try to tell those stories through our artistry about our journey, just so that we can connect with the world in some way. There’s been days I felt alone because of how my mind would take a deep dive into whatever and it would feel like too much for me. I would ask myself, “If this is too much even for me, why would anyone else want to hear my thoughts?” It’s hard at times because I believe we as artist are the most misunderstood flesh of this world, but yet again the world thrives to want to get to know us through our art.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
For me as an artist, the most rewarding aspect of creating is when I have got into a flow of how I want my song to sound like. I create songs a little differently, where I have a beginning, middle and end. When I get to a point where the main vocals are created, it’s rewarding because I know I’m at the state where I’m about to finish creating the song. My favorite part about creating a song is when it’s time for the harmonies and ad libs. It gives me a chance to explore my vocals and see how far I can push myself into making the song better than where it began. It’s rewarding to the end game of each track I create.. It’s a working progress and it’s exciting. I can’t wait to see where my art takes me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/gxhristopher?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
- Other: “Why Not Start With You” Debut Album https://spotify.link/g6kfcGYTLDb https://music.apple.com/us/album/why-not-start-with-you/1652569140 https://tidal.com/album/257869954
Image Credits
Sam Suter Thomas Anomalous Christophe McWhorter